By BRIANA SPINA
Layout Editor
New York State just passed a bill making the possession of three ounces of marijuana legal for people ages 21 and over. While some folks may be smoking a celebratory joint, others, myself included, are wary of what repercussions are to come from this. I’ll start with the analytical points, and then get into the emotional points. Bear with me.
Let’s look at the risks of using marijuana. We look at drunk driving as a public safety hazard, and we must also look at the risks of driving while under the influence of marijuana. Dennis Miller’s 2018 edition of “Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Drugs and Society” explains that marijuana impairs judgement, reaction time, and motor coordination: the perfect storm for a car accident. Research conducted by the University of California- San Francisco found that when Colorado legalized recreational marijuana, the rates of traffic accidents increased by 10%.
Many believe that marijuana is not addictive; however, just as with any other drug, users can become dependent on it and struggle to function in their lives because of it. There are also a host of other psychological disturbances that come along with marijuana use, as cited in “Drugs and Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology” by Stephanie Hancock and William A. McKim. It can cause anxiety, paranoia, and psychotic symptoms such as depersonalization, derealization, hallucinations, and delusions.
Further, it can be detrimental to cognition and may increase suicidality. These effects may be long lasting, and marijuana use has been linked to later diagnosis of psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia.
Hancock and McKim also noted that the earlier age at which a person uses marijuana, the more likely they are to develop psychosis. Additionally, marijuana use in adolescence is linked to amotivational syndrome. Hence why it is crucial to keep marijuana out of the hands of our nation’s youth.
Though adolescents will likely use marijuana regardless of the legality, keeping recreational marijuana illegal would decrease the accessibility of the drug.
There is a major problem with marijuana’s criminal status, however, which has to do with the racist enforcement of drug laws. The American Civil Liberties Union conducted thorough research over the past decade into marijuana arrests and found that Black Americans were 3.64 times more likely on average to be arrested for marijuana possession than white Americans, even though they use it at similar rates.
The current bill does work to correct these injustices by clearing people of marijuana-related offenses on their criminal records. That is progress, but hasn’t the damage mostly been done already? What is being done to address the systemic racism at the root of the problem? Further, New York State will provide monetary aid to promote the marijuana industry in minority communities. Is this really a positive method for “supporting” minorities (e.g. BIPOC, women, small farmers, and disabled veterans)? We have already seen the detrimental effects of the nicotine industry targeting communities of color; do we really want to repeat the cycle?
I’m not suggesting that everyone who indulges in the occasional smoke is diving headfirst into a downward spiral; however, I feel that marijuana users urgently need to self-reflect. Is this an “I get high with my friends on some Saturday nights” type of habit, or is it “I can’t wait until the end of the week so I can relieve my stress by smoking.”
The latter is a slippery slope into smoking intermittently throughout the weekdays to “take the edge off,” or even a daily habit.
This is in no way meant to shame anyone who uses or abuses substances. It is a valid struggle that deserves attention. Just ask yourself these questions.
What do you do when life gets overwhelming? Do you reach for substances? Is that your primary coping mechanism? What other tactics could you use to replace some of the occasions of substance use?
I know what it’s like to be dependent on self-destructive habits. I’ve spent years—nearly half of my life—struggling with self-punitive thoughts and behaviors, and all of those behaviors are just a way to avoid something deeper. I’ve been fortunate enough to have access to mental health treatment that has taught me a lot about myself, and I am just about to complete my Bachelor’s of Science in psychology with a clinical/counseling concentration.
And from what I’ve learned, I can say that smoking weed is a Band-Aid.
Maybe it makes you feel good for a couple of hours, and then you can fall asleep and start fresh in the morning. But you know what’s also there in the morning? The same stress that drove you to smoke in the first place. So what do you do? Maybe you mention the stressors to some friends in passing and get some words of support. Or maybe you don’t. Maybe talking to friends isn’t enough, if you open up at all. So what do you do? You put that same Band-Aid back on in the hopes that this time it will stick. But it never does.
You can’t put the same Band-Aid over a festering wound and expect the infection to go away. You can’t put a Band-Aid over a severed limb and expect the limb to reattach itself and make you whole again. You have to put in the work to make sure you heal. You go to professionals. They give you antibiotics and stitch you up. And then it’s your turn to keep coming back to physical therapy, being gentle with your healing wounds, and also pushing yourself towards recovery.
You’re not going to feel better overnight, and it will be tempting to stop putting in the work and just slap that Band-Aid back on the wound. Getting high might be the closest to “feeling better overnight” that you can get, but that’s not sustainable. Be honest with yourself. Be curious and nonjudgmental. Lean in to the discomfort, because that’s how growth happens.
Resources:
The Saint Rose Counseling Center: call 518-454-5200 to schedule a virtual appointment. Located in Saint Joseph Hall, Third Floor 985 Madison Ave. Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is “a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.”
Crisis Text Line: text “HOME” to 741-741 for free immediate support in a crisis situation. Free and available 24/7.
“That is progress, but hasn’t the damage mostly been done already?” so its not worth it to make the future better? Or to rescue innocent people from a violent prison system? That is super ignorant to say. You sound very priviliged.
“Be curious and nonjudgmental.” It sounds like you should take your own advice and stop judging people for smoking weed. I think the urgent need for self-reflection lies not with those who enjoy smoking weed, but rather with those who feel the need comment on what others put in their body…